The Frankfort roundabout. [volume] (Frankfort, Ky.) 1882-1908, 1887-02-05
For the ROUNDABOUT
"Wlly Not Have the Rail
rOa1?O

rOad?"
This is a question to he answered
by every Taxpayer and citizen o.
Franklin county, and in order tc
answer it intelligently, and to the
best interest of all concerned, II
might be well to consider few facts
in the case.
We will state, in the outset, that we
are a taxpayer, and will feel the
burden as much as any one, and we
are not interested i'm railroads OF
their profits. The road, as projected.
will not be confined to the Forks OF
ElkhOrn precinct and Frankfort,
but willrun beyond the river through
the county, and tap the Louisville
Southern, at point, yet to be desig-
mated, making it Il through county
road, of incalculabie importance as /,
carrier and feeder to the entire cOun-
ty. As an offset to the Taxpayers
objections, these leading facts may
be put down: First. The road, when
completed, will pay into the county
treasury tax on nearly two hundred
thousand dollars, equivalent to tax
on ten OF the best farms in the county.
Secondly. There is no estimating
the increase in the tax valuation of
property in Frankfort and the cOun-
ty, but it would be safe to put its inn
million dollars. Thirdly. (And an
item not to be despised.) The many
thousands Of dollars used in the con-
structon of the road in the county
would be mostly left in the hands of
our people, atf0rding at least tempo
rary prosperity in money matters, be-
sides giving employment to many
men and teams now idle.
TO the tobacco growers, we will
say, that the building of this railroad
would be far more profitable to you
next year than crop of tobacco.
No one can fail to admit that the
price of coal, lumber, DC, would be
materially leSsened, the transport
tatiOn Of grain, stock and produce in
general greatly facilitated.
We are opposed, on general prin-
ciples, to voting aid in the cOnstruc-
ton of railroads, but this is a neces-
sity, and admits of no alternative.
We are 6eHgdrs ia this case, not
chOOseTs. The appropriation asked
in this instance will be Il very mod
crate one, compared with other
counties, ami considering the great
expense in construction in this cOun-
ty, and we are at Il loss to understand
how any one can fail to see the inn
portance OF the road to every neigh
bOrnoOd in franklin county. What
will enhance the value Of property in
one section is of equal importance to
the other. 1t might be interesting
as well as Instructive, in this cOnnec-
ton, to observe what our neighbOrS
are doing in thequestiOn of railroads.
Scott county, although possessing Il
grand trunk lino-tne Cincinnati
SOuthern-is now ready and anxious
to vote Il tax To aid line from Mid
way to Georgetown, and are likewise
willing to vote toward constructing
our road. Bourbon county, with
three good roads, lately voted four
hundred thousand dollars for the
same. Clark and other counties are
going ahead, while poor old Frank
lin is behind the times, and slow to
realize the importance of the matter.
Frankfort, well situated geograph-
ically, Is the duiiest town in the
State, having but one railway, and
that one an enemy to her Interests,
and frequently discriminating against
her in freight business. The city
offers striking contrast to other
towns around, much younger ia
years, and less tavorabiy located.
Look at Winchester, Mt. Sterling,
Richmond and others, where You
really see the thrift, industry and
rush, due to the influence of rail
roads. Our near neighbOr, Law
rencebUrg, is lifting up her head,
and will soon have two roads, and
will laugh at us in our ignorance and
poverty. Wake up, feIl0w-citizens,
let Us be up and doing, before it is too
late. five are not able to see any
money in it for ourselves, our chill
dren may reap the benefit
n II w